New rules for quarantine at school, let's be clear

DAD and quarantine: what the rules currently in force provide and what could change from next week

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DAD and quarantine: what the rules currently in force provide and what could change from next week

The measures introduced in schools to contain the spread of Covid are putting a strain on the patience of children, young people and their families. At the moment, confusion reigns supreme and many are still not clear about all the rules to be respected at school, especially those relating to Dad (distance learning) and swabs (which for some families are becoming a drain) to be carried out in case of positive in class. Apparently, however, things are about to change again in the school world. As anticipated by Undersecretary of Health Andrea Costa, a new Dpcm should be approved next week which will simplify the mare magum concerning the universe of education, putting a stop to Dad.

But what could change? Before addressing the hypotheses at stake, let's review the rules currently in force in schools.

Read also: Children vaccinated or healed: the absurd paradox of contact quarantine, but only at school

Index

The rules currently in force

Nurseries and preschools

At the moment, in infant-toddler centers and preschools with a positive case, activities are automatically suspended for 10 days, at the end of which the children must be subjected to a tampon.

Posted by Ministry of Education on Thursday, January 6, 2022

Elementary schools

In elementary school, on the other hand, with a positive case of Covid, surveillance with tests is activated: the activities continue in the presence by carrying out a rapid or molecular antigen test as soon as the positive child (T0) is known. The test must then be repeated after five days (T5). Different situation in the presence of two or more positives in the classroom: in this case, the DAD is foreseen for all children for the duration of ten days, with outgoing tests.

Posted by Ministry of Education on Thursday, January 6, 2022

Middle and high schools

As regards the secondary school of I and II degree, in the case in which a positive is discovered in the classroom, self-surveillance is foreseen with the continuation of the activities in the presence and the use of the ffp2 masks. If, on the other hand, there are two cases in the same class, integrated digital teaching is triggered for those who have not had the booster dose and have completed the vaccination cycle for more than 120 days and for those who have recovered from Covid for more than 120 days. For all the others, the activities in presence continue, with the obligation to wear FFP2 masks for 10 days. Finally, with at least three cases in the same class, distance learning is provided for ten days for all students in the class.

Posted by Ministry of Education on Thursday, January 6, 2022

The new rules on the horizon

As anticipated, the decree that should be approved in the coming days aims to simplify the rules for the school world, introducing softer measures.

The high percentage of vaccinated people as well as the circulation of a virus that is a little less fearful than the delta variant allow us to remodel some rules and remove the bureaucracy that today is needed for the exit from isolation - announced Pierpaolo Sileri , Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health - The duration of the green pass for those who have completed the vaccination cycle should be reviewed. It is also necessary to reformulate the rules for the school given that vaccinated people are also increasing among boys and girls. The measures will be made on the basis of the data but I would say that we are now there.

Via the obligation to swab for vaccinated pupils

Among the hypotheses is that of eliminating the obligation of the swab for students who have completed the vaccination cycle and have been in contact with positives at school. In this case, it may be enough to wear the Ffp2 mask for at least 10 days. This rule, however, could not be applied to children in infant-toddler centers and kindergartens not affected by the vaccination campaign. Here, however, activities will be suspended, even in the case of a single infection.

Furthermore, an important change in sight is the elimination of the obligation to submit the certificate issued by the ASL or general practitioner: pupils just need to show a negative swab (also performed in a pharmacy) to go back to school.

No DAD for children who have been vaccinated or recovered recently

Another request made by the Regions to the Government is to put a stop to Dad. Even in elementary school the Dad should shoot from three cases up (as already happens in middle and high school). Only positives and unvaccinated pupils should stay at home. While those who have completed the vaccination cycle or have recently recovered from Covid could continue to safely follow the lessons in presence.

In the cases of positivity that trigger the Dad, the boys are understood to be in self-surveillance and no longer in quarantine - clarified the Undersecretary of Health Andrea Costa. - For the return to class of recovered and vaccinated with only the swab, the circular should arrive at the latest at the beginning of next week.

Quarantine of 7 days (and no more than 10) in middle and high schools

Among the proposals that have reached the Government's table there is also that of bringing the quarantine to 7 days - instead of 10 - for vaccinated pupils in middle and high schools in the case of positive students in the classroom.

"We think about the fact that we can reduce the quarantine in the 12-19 years range, among which we have 80% of vaccinated children, and we begin to say that vaccinated and cured must always remain in the presence" explained the Undersecretary of Health Andrea Costa.

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Source: Ministry of Education